Renewable High Density Turbine and Diesel Fuels

ABSTRACT

A method for synthesizing cyclic hydrocarbons with linear hydrocarbon side chains from a renewable source, or biomass by naturally occurring or bioengineered fungal strains, or hydrodistillation of plants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional patent application, claiming the benefit of,parent application Ser. No. 61/624,754 filed on Apr. 16, 2012, wherebythe entire disclosure of which is incorporated hereby reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a process for the synthesis of a highdensity fuel from renewable sources including waste biomass.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the process for synthesizing of high densityfuels from renewable sources including waste biomass, according toembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a chemical schematic showing the process for synthesizing ofhigh density fuels from renewable sources including waste biomass,according to embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not to be viewed as being restrictive of the invention, as claimed.Further advantages of this invention will be apparent after a review ofthe following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments, whichare illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings and in theappended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a process for thesynthesis of a high density fuel from renewable sources including wastebiomass.

High density renewable fuels have applications in a number of vehicleand weapon platforms. The use of fuels with high densities and net heatsof combustion allows for improved tactical performance. In addition, useof renewable fuels decreases consumption of petroleum and is alignedwith current and future Navy goals related to sustainability andgreenhouse gas reduction.

Although research into renewable fuels has progressed at a rapid pace,particularly in the last decade, most renewable fuels synthesized foruse as turbine or diesel fuels have modest densities that preclude themfrom being considered “full-performance” fuels. Petroleum derived filetscontain a number of functional groups including aromatic and cyclicmoieties that improve the density and the volumetric net heat ofcombustion of the fuel. As an additional limitation, diesel enginesrequire hydrocarbon fuels with high centric numbers (a property derivedfrom linear hydrocarbon chains) thus limiting the density achievable forrenewable diesel fuels. This invention describes a process toefficiently synthesize a cyclic hydrocarbon with linear hydrocarbon sidechains from a renewable source. The resulting fuel mixture then has botha higher density than either straight chain or branched hydrocarbons anda high enough cetane number to be used in a diesel engine. These fuelmixtures have applications as both turbine and diesel fuels and have thepotential to improve the tactical performance of aircraft, weaponsystems, UAV's, and diesel powered vehicles, while greatly reducing thenet greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact of theseplatforms. Also of importance, these fuels can be derived fromsustainable sources helping to stabilize fuel prices and reduce thereliance of the Navy on petroleum derived products.

Synthesizing cyclic hydrocarbons with linear hydrocarbon side chainsfrom a renewable source, or biomass by naturally occurring orbioengineered fungal strains, or hydrodistillation of plants.

1-octene-3-ol is isolated from a renewable source or is produced bybioengineered organisms. 1-octene-3-ol is then dehydrated by a catalystto produce a mixture of cis and trans 1,3-octadiene as well asisomerized octadienes (catalysts include inorganic acids, Lewis acids,solid acid catalysts). The mixture of octadienes is cyclodimerized withthe aid of a catalyst, modest pressure, and heat. The resulting cyclicolefins are hydrogenated to produce a saturated mixture. The mixture ispurified by distillation to yield a high density fuel.

In another embodiment, 1-octene-3-ol can be isolated from a number ofrenewable sources. Linoleic acid can be enzymatically broken down toproduce 1-octene-3-ol. Alternatively, hydrodistillation of plants (e.g.Melittis melissophyllum subsp. Melissophyllum) or isolation of1-octene-3-ol from the degradation of biomass by naturally occurring orbioengineered fungal strains can yield significant quantities of thealcohol. The alcohol is dehydrated with an acid catalyst to yield amixture of cis and trans-1,3-octadiene. Suitable catalysts includeinorganic acids including phosphoric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acids.Solid acid catalysts including acid clays, various inorganic oxides,zeolites, aluminosilicates and cation exchange resins can also be usedfor the dehydration reaction. Homogenous or heterogeneous Lewis acidcatalysts are also suitable for the dehydration reaction. A pure mixtureof octadienes can be isolated by fractional distillation. The octadienemixture is then mixed with either a homogenous or heterogeneous catalystand heated in a dosed system under moderate pressure to affect aDiels-Alder cycloaddition. The resulting cyclic olefins arecatalytically hydrogenated with the aid of a catalyst (Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu)to yield a saturated hydrocarbon product. The saturated mixture isdistilled to yield the final high density fuels.

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods of synthesizingfuels including, isolating 1-octene-3-ol from waste biomass or arenewable source by hydrodistillation of plant material, enzymaticcleavage of fatty acids, or direct biosynthesis with fungi or bacteria,dehydrating 1-octene-3-ol with at least one acid catalyst to produce amixture of isomers of 1,3-octadiene and internal octadienes,cyclodimerizing the mixture of isomers of 1,3-octadiene and internaloctadienes under modest pressure having a range from about 1 atm toabout 200 atm and beating with a range from about −20° C. to about 350°C. with at least one homogeneous or heterogenous Lewis acid catalyst toeffect a Diels-Alder cycloaddition to produce a mixture of unsaturatedcyclic olefins, catalytically hydrogenating the unsaturatedcyclo-olefins with hydrogen to produce a mixture of saturated cyclichydrocarbons, and purifying the saturated cyclic hydrocarbons bydistillation to produce fuel mixtures with densities greater than 0.8g/mL.

Another aspect of the invention generally relates to methods ofsynthesizing fuels including, isolating 1-octene-3-ol from waste biomassor a renewable source by hydrodistillation of plant material, enzymaticcleavage of fatty acids, or direct biosynthesis with fungi or bacteriadehydrating the 1-octene-3-ol with at least one acid catalyst to producea mixture of isomers of 1,3-octadiene and internal octadienes,cyclodimerizing the mixture of isomers of 1,3-octadiene and internaloctadienes with other renewable or petroleum derived conjugated dieneshaving between 4 and 20 carbon atoms, or any dienophile under modestpressure a range from about 1 atm to about 200 atm and heating with arange from about −20° C. to about 350° C. with at least one homogeneousor heterogenous catalyst to effect a Diels-Alder cycloaddition toproduce a mixture of unsaturated cyclic olefins, catalyticallyhydrogenating the unsaturated cyclo-olefins with hydrogen to produce amixture of saturated cyclic hydrocarbons, and purifying the saturatedcyclic hydrocarbons by distillation to product fuel mixtures withdensities exceeding 0.8 g/mL.

Embodiments further include isolating by degradation of said wastebiomass having naturally occurring or bioengineered fungal strains. Inother embodiments, the renewable source including at least one linoleicacid, other fatty acids, triglycerides, or mixtures thereof. Embodimentsfurther include obtaining alcohol by hydrodistillation of a renewablesource including plants being Melittis melissophyllum. In embodiments,the acid catalyst includes at least one inorganic acid selected from thegroup consisting of phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrochloricacid, other mineral acids, and supported mineral acids. In otherembodiments, the acid catalyst includes at least one solid acid catalystselected from the group consisting of acid clays, inorganic oxides,zeolites, aluminosilicates, and cation exchange resins. Yet in otherembodiments, the Lewis acid catalyst includes either homogenous orheterogeneous with an active component that includes a Group 3 metal,transition metal, or lanthanide metal. Still yet in other embodiments,the catalyst utilized in the catalytic hydrogenation includes at leastone Pt, Pd, or Cu. In embodiments, the other renewable or petroleumderived conjugated dienes includes at least one butadiene,2,3-dimethylbutadiene, isoprene, and any alkene. Another aspect of theinvention includes fuel mixtures (including high density fuels) producedby the methods herein.

PROPHETIC EXAMPLES

Any of the prophetic examples are for illustration purposes only and notto be used to limit any of the embodiments.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that eachintervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lowerlimits of that range is also specifically disclosed. Each smaller rangebetween any stated value or intervening value in a stated range and anyother stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassedwithin the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller rangesmay independently be included or excluded in the range, and each rangewhere either, neither or both limits are included in the smaller rangesis also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specificallyexcluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes oneor both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those includedlimits are also included in the invention.

While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shownin various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it haspresumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be,nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such othermodifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings hereinare particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth andscope of the claims here appended.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of synthesizing fuels, comprising:isolating 1-octene-3-ol from waste biomass or a renewable source byhydrodistillation of plant material, enzymatic cleavage of fatty acids,or direct biosynthesis with fungi or bacteria; dehydrating said1-octene-3-ol with at least one acid catalyst to produce a mixture ofisomers of 1,3-octadiene and internal octadienes; cyclodimerizing saidmixture of isomers of 1,3-actadiene and internal octadienes under modestpressure having a range from about 1 atm to about 200 atm and heatingwith a range from about −20° C. to about 350° C. with at least onehomogeneous or heterogenous Lewis acid catalyst to effect a Diels-Aldercycloaddition to produce a mixture of unsaturated cyclic olefins;catalytically hydrogenating said unsaturated cyclo-olefins with hydrogento produce a mixture of saturated cyclic hydrocarbons; and purifyingsaid saturated cyclic hydrocarbons by distillation to produce fuelmixtures with densities greater than 0.8 g/mL.
 2. The method accordingto claim 1, further comprising isolating by degradation of said wastebiomass includes naturally occurring or bioengineered fungal strains. 3.The method according to claim 1, wherein said renewable source comprisesat least one linoleic acid, other fatty acids, triglycerides, ormixtures thereof.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingobtaining alcohol by hydrodistillation of a renewable source includingplants being Melittis melissophyllum.
 5. The method according to claim1, wherein said acid catalyst comprises at least one inorganic acidselected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid,and hydrochloric acid, other mineral acids, and supported mineral acids.6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said acid catalyst comprisesat least one solid acid catalyst selected from the group consisting ofacid clays, inorganic oxides, zeolites, aluminosilicates, and cationexchange resins.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said Lewisacid catalyst comprises either homogenous or heterogeneous with anactive component that includes a Group 3 metal, transition metal, orlanthanide metal.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein saidcatalyst utilized in the catalytic hydrogenation comprises at least oneNi, Pt, Pd, or Cu.
 9. Fuel mixtures produced by the methods in claim 1.10. A method of synthesizing fuels, comprising: isolating 1-octene-3-olfrom waste biomass or a renewable source by hydrodistillation of plantmaterial, enzymatic cleavage of fatty acids, or direct biosynthesis withfungi or bacteria; dehydrating said 1-octene-3-ol with at least one acidcatalyst to produce a mixture of isomers of 1,3-octadiene and internaloctadienes; cyclodimerizing said mixture of isomers of 3-octadiene andinternal octadienes with other renewable or petroleum derived conjugateddienes having between 4 and 20 carbon atoms, or any dienophile undermodest pressure a range from about 1 atm to about 200 atm and heatingwith a range from about −20° C. to about 350° C. with at least onehomogeneous or heterogenous catalyst to effect a Diels-Aldercycloaddition to produce a mixture of unsaturated cyclic olefins;catalytically hydrogenating said unsaturated cyclo-olefins with hydrogento produce a mixture of saturated cyclic hydrocarbons; and punting saidsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons by distillation to produce fuel mixtureswith densities exceeding 0.8 g/mL.
 11. method according to claim 10,wherein said other renewable or petroleum derived conjugated dienescomprises at least one butadiene, 2,3-dimethylbutadiene, isoprene, andany alkene.
 12. The method according to claim 10, further comprisingisolating by degradation of said waste biomass includes naturallyoccurring or bioengineered fungal strains.
 13. The method according toclaim 10, wherein said renewable source comprises at least one linoleicacid, other fatty acids, triglycerides, or mixtures thereof.
 14. Themethod according to claim 10, further comprising obtaining alcohol byhydrodistillation of a renewable source including plants being Melittismelissophyllum.
 15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said acidcatalyst comprises at least one inorganic acid selected from the groupconsisting of phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrochloric acid,other mineral acids, and supported mineral acids.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein said acid catalyst comprises at least onesolid acid catalyst selected from the group consisting of acid clays,inorganic oxides, zeolites, aluminosilicates, and cation exchangeresins.
 17. The method according to claim 10, wherein said Lewis acidcatalyst comprises either homogenous or heterogeneous with an activecomponent that includes a Group 3 metal, transition metal, or lanthanidemetal.
 18. The method according to claim 10, wherein said catalystutilized in the catalytic hydrogenation comprises at least one Ni, Pt,Pd, or Cu.
 19. Fuel mixtures produced by the methods in claim 1.